Roof construction



Dec. 31, 1963 J. H. BECKERS ROOF CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 30, 1960 Q mm W 9m mm V 1 Em 7 xy H 7 Vf/ o Z77 4/24 31,/Y. 7 0/ H W E Q T" W m a a J W N .w\ N\ on /4...Q.o

Dec. 31, 1963 J. H. BECKERS ROOF CONSTRUCTION 3' Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 30, 1960 Joseph H. Backers INVENTOR.

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3 1963 J. H. BECKERS 3,115,725

' ROOF CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 50, 1960 s Sheets-Sheet a Fly 4 Fly 5 l4 I I l U 0 osep Backers INVENTOR.

BY anln mvyfim United States Patent Ofilice 3,115,725 Patented Dec. 31, 1963 3,115,725 ROOF CGNSTRUCTION Joseph H. Backers, Rte. 10, S. Robert Road, South St. Paul, Minn. Filed Aug. 30, 1960, 'Ser. No. 52,922 4 Claims. (Cl. 512-58) The present invention relates to a new and useful arched roof construction.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide a roof construction consisting of a plurality of spaced arches interconnected by parallel wooden beams, said arches being of a steel truss construction.

Another object of this invention is to provide a truss construction for roof arches which is composed of three sections bolted to each other and anchored in the foundation footings.

A further object of this invention in accordance with the foregoing objects is to provide a truss construction for roof arches composed of two curved side sections bolted to a center section, each of the sections being formed by a radially inner curved truss frame member and a pair of radially outer frame members, the frame members being interconnected by spaced plates which extend upwardly beyond the radially outer truss frame members, said extended portions providing means for bolting the parallel wooden beams to the arch truss construction in addition to constituting a rigid interconnection between the truss frame members. The plates are thus rigidly connected by welding to the three truss frame members. Angle strut braces also are welded between the interconnecting plates and the radially inner frame member.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a three section truss construction for a roof arch enabling the arch to be readily assembled by bolting the side curved sections to the center sections and anchoring the side sections on the foundation footings over which the roof construction is to be built.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of an assembled arch made in accordance with this invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged partial front elevational view of the connecting portion between a curved side section and a center section.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the portion of the arch illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken through a plane indicated by section line 4-4 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view of a portion of the center arch section.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged partial view with parts shown in section of the footing end of the curved side section of the arch.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken through a plane indicated by section line 77 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged sectional view of the center portion of the center section of the arch.

FIGURE 9 is a partial side elevational view of interconnected arch assemblies.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, FIGURE 1 illustrates one of the arches generally indicated by reference numeral 10 forming the roof construction of this invention. The arches 10 as shown in FIGURE 9 are therefore interconnected by a plurality of parallel spaced wooden beams 12 and are anchored on a building foundation 14 having side footings 16. It will also be observed in FIGURE 1, that each of the arches 10 are composed of a center section generally indicated by reference numeral 18 which is bolted to curved side sections 20 on either side thereof, each of the curved side sections being of similar construction.

Referring now to FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 it will be observed that the center section 18 includes a curved inner frame member or iron strap member 22 which is spaced from radially outer frame angle members 24 and 26. The frame or chord members 22, 24 and 2e are spaced from each other by means of a plurality of spaced plate members generally indicated by reference numeral 28 as more clearly seen in FIGURE 5. The plates at the terminal ends of the center section 18 to which the adjacent curved side sections 2% are connected are similar to the other plates 28 and are designated by reference numeral 3t? as seen in FIGURE 4. The plates 28 and 30 are welded to the side frame members 22, 24 and 26 so that the three frame members are rigidly interconnected to form the truss construction. Also, a brace strut member 32 of angle iron cross section is welded to the frame member 22 and the plate 3t or the plate 28 so as to form a rigid truss construction. It will be observed that the plate 28 or 30 has a portion 34 which extends upwardly beyond the angle frame member 24 and 26. A pair of bolts 36 and 33 are therefore provided on the extended portion 34 for bolting the wooden beams 12 preferably Douglas fir to the arch construction of which the plates 28 and 30 are a part.

The foregoing description of the center section 18 would apply equally to the construction of the side curved sections 24). The center section however differs from the side curved sections 26 in that the longitudal extent or height of the plates increase toward the center of the center section. Referring therefore to FIGURES 5 and 8 it will be observed that the plate member 28 illustrated in FIGURE 5 is greater in height than the plate 28 closer to the end plate 3t). Also referred to FIGURE 8 and FIGURE 1 it will be observed that the center plate 40 which is similar in construction to the other plates 28 is of maximum height as compared thereto. The center plate 49 also difiers from the other plates 28 in that a pair of wooden beams 12 are bolted thereto on either side thereof while additional angle members 42 are welded to the radially outer frame members 24 and 26 in order to bolt thereto additional wooden beams 12 necessary to maintain substantial equal spacing between the wooden beams,- the plate member 28 adjacent the center plate 4t) being spaced a greater distance along the outer frame members 24 and 26. It will therefore also be observed that the inner frame member 22 is curved while the outer frame members 24 and 26 are straight members.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 and 2 it will be observed that the section 20 of the arch assembly also includes an inner frame member 44 similar in curvature to the inner frame member 22 of the section 18. However the radially outer spaced beam supporting frame members 46 and 43 as seen in FIGURES 2 and 3 are parallel to the inner frame member 44 and hence also curved. The curvature of the outer frame members 46 and 48 is therefore such that the frame members 24 and 26 of the center section 18 will be tangent thereto. The inner frame members 22 and 44 of course present a continuous curvature for the arch assembly. It will therefore be observed that the curved side sections 29 also include spaced plate members 5t) similar inconstruction to the plate members .28 of the center section but the plate members 50 of the sections 25) are all of equal height inasmuch as the frame members 46 and 48 are parallel to the frame member 44. The plate members 50 also include outer portions 52 to which the wooden beams 12 are bolted in non-pivoting supporting relation to the spaced frame members 46 and 48. Also, the curved side sections 20 include an end plate 54 similar to plate 50 by means of which the sections 20 are bolted to the center section 13. Accordingly, a connecting plate 56 is welded to the inner frame member 4-4 and a pair of outer connecting strap irons 58 are welded to the sides of the outer frame members 46 and 48. A plurality of bolts 60 therefore connects the plate 56 and inner frame member 44 of section 20 to the inner frame member 22 of center section 18. Also, the bolts 62 connect the frame members 46 and 48 of section 20 to the outer frame members 24 and 26 of center section 18. The end plates 36 and 54 on the center section and side sections 18 and 20 respectively are also bolted to each other by bolts 64. Accordingly, the sections will be rigidly connected to each other when assembled by means of the bolts 60, 62 and 64. It will also be observed that the side curved sections 20 include bracing struts 56 similar to the struts 32 of center section 18.

Referring now to FIGURES 1, 6 and 7 it will be observed that the lower end of the side sections 20 have anchor plates 68 connected thereto by means of welding between the curved frame member 44 and the outer frame members 46 and 48. The anchor plate 68 is similar in construction to the other plates 50 of the curved side sections 20. However, the outer portion 70 of the plate 68 not only has bolted thereto the wooden beam 12 but is also anchored in the concrete footing 16 by means of the anchor bolt '72. Additional anchor bolts 74 are provided intermediate the frame members 44 and 46 and 48 to additionally anchor the anchor plate 68 to the foundation 14. It will therefore be apparent that the wooden beam 12 at the anchor ends of the side curved sections 20 also clamps the arch assemblies to the footings 16. In connection with the foregoing statement it will be observed that the wooden beam 12 connected to the end plate 30 of the center section 18 is also connected by means of the bolt 76 to the end plate 54 of the side curved section 20 as an additional connection between the sections 18 and 20.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that a highly useful roof assembly arrangement is realized. Each of the arches of the roof assembly therefore may be readily assembled from three sections which are bolted to each other and bolted to the foundation footing. The arch sections are otherwise composed of parts welded to each other and provides extending portions from the plate members 28, 50, 30, 40, 54 and 68 for bolting to the arch a plurality of substantially equally spaced wooden beams 12 resting on their ends on the outer angle frame members 24, 26, 46 and 48 of the arch assemblies. Accordingly, each of the plate members is necessarily disposed parallel to the abutting surfaces of an associated beam 12 secured thereto as shown in the drawings while supported or resting on the spaced outer chord members of each arch assembly. The beams will therefore be effective to brace the plate members as well as to maintain the spacing between the arch assemblies.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In a building framework the combination of a plurality of upright truss-like arch members arranged in spaced parallel planes, each arch member comprising separably connected side arch sections interconnected by a center arch section, and each arch section including an inner chord member and at least two outer chord members, said chord members being arranged in parallel spaced vertical planes, the chord members of the side arch sections being uniformly spaced apart throughout in a direction parallel to said vertical planes, a plurality of spaced plates disposed perpendicular to said spaced vertical planes interconnecting said chord members of each arch section, longitudinally disposed beams supported between the outer chord members of each arch member, and connecting means mounted on portions of said spaced plates extending outwardly beyond the outer chord members for securing the beams to the arch members to maintain their spacing and brace the plates.

2. The construction as defined in claim 1, wherein each end of each side arch section has end plate means for connecting the side section to a footing and to said center arch section.

3. The construction as defined in claim 2 including beams secured to the end plate means of each side section, said latter mentioned beams being also secured to the center section and the footing respectively.

4. In a roof construction, the combination of a plurality of spaced vertical arch assemblies interconnected by elongated beams supported therebetween, each arch assembly including; at least two outer chord members spaced from each other in a direction parallel to said beams for spaced support of each beam by each arch assembly, at least one inner chord member spaced inwardly from the outer chord members, spaced plates interconnecting said chord members and extending outwardly beyond the outer chord members each plate being disposed in parallel alignment with one of said beams associated therewith, said beams being supported on the outer chord members, and means securing said plates to the associated beams respectively for bracing the plates and maintaining the spacing between the arch assemblies.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,241,617 Rubin May 13, 1941 2,666,507 Ruark Jan. 19, 1954 2,924,310 Colbath Feb. 9, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 132,571 Austria Mar. 25, 1933 24,340 Australia Sept. 6, 1935 511,262 Italy Jan. 26, 1955 

1. IN A BUILDING FRAMEWORK THE COMBINATION OF A PLURALITY OF UPRIGHT TRUSS-LIKE ARCH MEMBERS ARRANGED IN SPACED PARALLEL PLANES, EACH ARCH MEMBER COMPRISING SEPARABLY CONNECTED SIDE ARCH SECTIONS INTERCONNECTED BY A CENTER ARCH SECTION, AND EACH ARCH SECTION INCLUDING AN INNER CHORD MEMBER AND AT LEAST TWO OUTER CHORD MEMBERS, SAID CHORD MEMBERS BEING ARRANGED IN PARALLEL SPACED VERTICAL PLANES, THE CHORD MEMBERS OF THE SIDE ARCH SECTIONS BEING UNIFORMLY SPACED APART THROUGHOUT IN A DIRECTION PARALLEL TO SAID VERTICAL PLANES, A PLURALITY OF SPACED PLATES DISPOSED PERPENDICULAR TO SAID SPACED VERTICAL PLANES INTERCONNECTING SAID CHORD MEMBERS OF EACH ARCH SECTION, LONGITUDINALLY DISPOSED BEAMS SUPPORTED BETWEEN THE OUTER CHORD MEMBERS OF EACH ARCH MEMBER, AND CONNECTING MEANS MOUNTED ON PORTIONS OF SAID SPACED PLATES EXTENDING OUTWARDLY BEYOND THE OUTER CHORD MEMBERS FOR SECURING THE BEAMS TO THE ARCH MEMBERS TO MAINTAIN THEIR SPACING AND BRACE THE PLATES. 